CHAPTER NINE

                    I let out an exaggerated sigh as I stared at the map. I couldn't check my books yesterday. I thought about going to the library first. I took out the map and began to find my location on the map. 

     "Here!" I muttered. I was standing in a path enclosed by classrooms. Only a few students were in groups. I had come here before. I could see the headmaster's office at the end of the hallway. 

     All stopped whispering. Their faces were haunted. I followed everyone's gaze. A tall, white blonde girl wearing a tight white long dress was pacing my way, her heels clicking against the floor creating an ominous atmosphere. 

     My stomach swirled. The air changed around me. She was glaring at me. I swallowed hard and felt my heart racing a bit. When she was crossing the distance with her long strides, her pink lips thinned. She was a beauty. Her facial expression twisted as she had tasted sour lemon.

     Her posture was scaring me. She intended to hurt me. I can feel it. Her frown deepened as she drifted closer to me. Her jasmine perfume drifted with her in the air. She gave me a spiteful look.

     My mind yelled at me to escape. I took a step back. My heart was beating fast in my ears. Why was she looking so furiously at me? 

     She bared her teeth at me, her chest rumbling, eyes glowing amber. Before I could escape, she was close to me. I took several steps back. Her fisted hand was already in the air and it connected with my ribcage. I felt the impact and immense pain lower my chest. 

     She growled louder like an animal, glaring at me with her icy blue eyes. Her eyes flashed changing colours. I recoiled in fear, stumbling. My back slammed the wall. Her hands formed into fists and she smacked me in the face.

      I felt something hot dripping down. S***! She broke my nose. 

     Tears pooled in my eyes. Everything happened at the speed of a blink. 

      Her hand shifted to claws, swiping across my chest in one move. It cut through my blouse and b*a, leaving large, red welts across my chest, just short of breaking the skin. 

      My face contorted in pain. The pain pulsed against my chest, joining the pain in my stomach. 

     She's some kind of lunatic.

      "Silver! Stop it!" My watery eyes jerked at the commanding voice. He was scowling at her. 

      "Aless..andro..." I drawled in a low voice. 

     Silver wrapped her hand around my neck, "Stay away from my mate," Lifting me in the air. I parted my lips to breathe. 

     "Silver!" His voice was full of anger, full of power and authority. 

     Her fingers loosened against my neck. I sank back against the wall. I winced at the pain. 

     'I'm going to die. I couldn't survive twenty-four hours. They won't give me the help they have promised me and my family. '

     Something wrapped around me, "You're insane, Silver." He growled like an animal.

     "I…" 

     I saw his worried grey eyes on me. Silver moved closer. I tried to pull myself away. But I couldn't move.

     "He'd destroy everything," Alessandro yell-whispered.

     I tasted my salty tears. My sight turned blurry. Tears were streaming down as the pain became intolerable. I saw Jasper, Daniel and Carlos surrounding me. 

     "Emma, hold on. You'll be fine." Jasper said in a hurry. 

     I focused my gaze on his face. The roof was moving. My ears were buzzing. I parted my lips, "Mom... Ava..." They couldn't break the contract after my death. My chest and throat were burning, pain couldn't be explained. 

     "Hold on, queen," Another voice rang in my ears. I turned my gaze and met the dark eyes of Daniel. 

     "Why is the roof moving?" I forced the words out of my mouth. Death pain was shackling me. My breathing was rapid. I fought for control. It was just increasing the pain. The voices began to buzz around me.

      I felt a soft touch over my cheek. My eyes nictate. I saw his forest green eyes looking down at me. I saw the fire burning too. My vision got grey as darkness closed over me. I wanted to stare back but my body refused.